New Discoveries at Jamestown eBook

CANNON

One small cannon barrel fragment, possibly from a
light cannon known as a robinet, has been unearthed
(the bore at the end of the barrel is only 1-1/4 inches
across). A varied assortment of 17th-century cannon
balls have also been found, appropriate sizes for
such ordnance as demiculverines, sakers, minions,
and falcons.

MUSKETS

An excellent assemblage of 17th-century musket barrels
and gun parts have been recovered from the Jamestown
soil, reminiscent of times when Indians attempted
to wipe out the small settlement.

Among the gunlocks found are matchlocks, wheel-locks,
snaphaunces, “doglocks,” and flintlocks.
The first settlers were equipped with both wheel-lock
and matchlock muskets. Some of the muskets were
so heavy, they required a forked ground-rest to shoot
(parts of two forked ground-rests have been excavated).
Other muskets, like the caliver, were light, and could
be fired without the use of a support.

The standard musket during the early years of the
settlement was the matchlock. By 1625, however,
the picture had changed, for the wheel-lock, snaphaunce,
and “doglock,” were being used in large
numbers, and the matchlock had become obsolete.

PISTOLS

Only a few pistol barrels and parts have been unearthed.
One pistol barrel is attractively ornamented with
silver bands.

LIGHT ARMOR AND SIEGE HELMET

A breastplate and backpiece from a light suit of armor
(probably a pikeman’s suit) were found in a
refuse pit. These interesting specimens were
probably made in England during the 1600-20 period.

In 1953, Sgt. Floyd E. Painter found an English
siege helmet (1600-40 period) 4 miles down the river
from Jamestown Island.